A surgical stapling device includes an anvil having a tissue engaging surface, a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge, a firing mechanism for ejecting staples from the staple cartridge, and an actuator or lever that is configured to move the anvil and the cartridge assembly between spaced and clamped positions. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of rows of pushers that extend longitudinally within the staple cartridge and support the staples. In embodiments, the distance between the pushers and the tissue engaging surface of the anvil in at least one of the plurality of rows of pushers changes to compensate for an increase in outward deflection of the anvil in relation to the cartridge assembly along the longitudinal axis in the distal direction. In some embodiments, the distance between the pushers and the tissue engaging surface of the anvil in at least one of the plurality of rows of pushers is smaller at the distal portion of the staple cartridge than at the proximal portion.
